Concerns about collapsed office building roof quieted

PORTSMOUTH — Employees and visitors in an office building at Griffin Park were forced out into the cold Friday morning due to concerns the roof may collapse under the weight of heavy snow.

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By Charles McMahon

seacoastonline.com

By Charles McMahon

Posted Feb. 22, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By Charles McMahon
Posted Feb. 22, 2014 at 2:00 AM

SAFETY TIPS

Firefighters advise to watch for the following signs of roof collapse:• Snow "sagging" in a section that could indicate a partial roof collapse.• The older the roof, the greater...

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SAFETY TIPS

Firefighters advise to watch for the following signs of roof collapse:

• Snow "sagging" in a section that could indicate a partial roof collapse.

• The older the roof, the greater the chance of collapse.

• A pitch that allows for snow and ice build-up.

• Creaking or other sounds.

What you can do: York fire officials recommend calling firefighters if you are concerned about an imminent collapse. If roof heights make it unfeasible to use a roof rake, local landscapers and plowers often clear roofs as side jobs and have the equipment to do so.

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PORTSMOUTH — Employees and visitors in an office building at Griffin Park were forced out into the cold Friday morning due to concerns the roof may collapse under the weight of heavy snow.

Firefighters responded to the office building at 100 Griffin Road shortly before 9 a.m. after an employee reported the ceiling had begun to sag, according to Deputy Fire Chief Carl Roediger.

The office building, which houses multiple medical offices as well as other professional businesses, was immediately evacuated as firefighters worked to assess the situation.

Crews were able to access the roof of the single-story building using the department's tower truck, as firefighters inspected the interior of the structure.

Upon further investigation, Roediger said, the building was deemed safe and employees were allowed back inside. He said the property manager would need to remove snow from the roof.

Roediger said the incident should be used as a learning experience.

"It's a problem we see with a lot of flat-roof buildings when it comes to heavy, wet snow," he said.

The scare comes only days after New Hampshire State Fire Marshal J. William Degnan issued a warning to area residents to clear roofs of snow and ice that has accumulated.

"A roof may collapse with little or no warning, and one common misconception is that only flat roofs are susceptible to collapse," Degnan said.

SAFETY TIPS

Firefighters advise to watch for the following signs of roof collapse:

Snow "sagging" in a section that could indicate a partial roof collapse.

The older the roof, the greater the chance of collapse.

A pitch that allows for snow and ice build-up.

Creaking or other sounds.

What you can do: York fire officials recommend calling firefighters if you are concerned about an imminent collapse. If roof heights make it unfeasible to use a roof rake, local landscapers and plowers often clear roofs as side jobs and have the equipment to do so.